The High Priestess is the card of intuition and inner knowing. She represents our ability to connect directly with Divine wisdom by entering our silent center. In this card, the queen is often depicted sitting between two pillars, one black and one white, representing polarity. She holds the book of wisdom on her lap.

In life, we are often caught up in polarities when we face difficult decisions, uncertainty, doubt or fear. The book on her lap reminds us that when we remove ourselves from chaos, we can quiet the mind and emotions and enter the higher realms of spirit and intuition. It is in that quiet center, the eye of the storm so to speak, that we find our answers. It can be difficult to hear our inner voice when we are caught up in the moment. The priestess reminds us that we can access our inner sanctuary and that all we need to know is available to us when we seek our higher wisdom.

Meditation is often represented by this card, because it is a conscious act and choice to remove ourselves from distraction and place ourselves within our heart center. Practiced often enough, it is possible to enter a semi-meditative state at any moment, even while engaged in other activities. This allows those who practice it to perform well under pressure and to focus with great clarity. Think of an Olympic athlete for example, despite distractions all around, they can put themselves in a place of extreme mental clarity and focus.

In this card, the moon is often shown in its various phases on her crown and beneath her feet. This symbolizes having access to the subconscious and the ability to work with it as well as the intuition. Many people are unaware of the influence their subconscious thoughts have on their lives. With training and focus, the Priestess reminds us we can learn to direct the course of our thoughts and tap into our subconscious mind. In doing so, we can unlearn negative, self-sabotaging thoughts and behaviors and instill new, positive ones.

When the Priestess appears in any reading, she is telling you that the answers you are seeking need to come from your higher place of knowing. Learn to trust your intuition and to rely on it, free from emotion and confused thinking. In the stillness our best answers often appear to us in ways we never could have discovered otherwise.